The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-21

s"S' Douy was to- deliberate. Full
zen minutes, notwithstanding that tn
ssa,s We're designated by the name o
ooa,os IN large letters, were. consumed il
getting me delegates seated. When orde
was partially obtained, Col. Wood rappe,
.io convention 10 order, and introduced
.he rev; Dr., Boggs, OF Memphis, wht
cohyoKed the divine blessing on the delib
cratiolls oil The assembled delegates.
PRESIDENT Wood then announced tina
III delegates who had not registered ant
procured badges, should come forward Il
inc secretary table and do so. .
MT, Wood then addressed the conyen.
ton us follows:
MR.. WOODS SPEECH.
In my official capacity as the chairman
OF the executive committee on the i'm.
provenlent OF the western waterways. il il
WIN great pleasure that | have the oppor.
Iuhity oil calling together such n large
NUMBER OF representative men from the
different sections OF our common country,
and especially from the great Mississippi,
ONO and Missouri valleys. | see before
me men OF energy, intelligence and great
business capacity; men who, when they
say tins thing must DO done, II will be
zone. Representing, as you do, from
VI tWtulN GitItN Oh IDh Union
n upward Of 100000 600 Of lis inhab.
iiants, and who are either directly or indi-
reciiy connected with the that il
carried on on thescgrcat waterways assures
me that this convention will be n great stlc-
cess. The history Of the past il before Won.
NO Will not refer 10 tho failure OF our
river and harbor bill Inst year, but | would
respectfully suggest. TO this convention
that the time has come when the repre-
~senultives OF this great valley should speak
In thunder tones md demand their rights
under the constitution, and II u deaf ear IL
turned TO their demands by the Congress
OF our country. then should our
delegates, both In Congress and the
Senate, representing this great section
say not one dollar shall 90 elsewhere.
Great applause. Some may think this
strong language, but ] think I've only
voiced the sentiment Of every delegate
present here today. During the last year
we have been called upon TO mourn the
loss OF the greatest champion Of river inn
proycmcnt. Capt, Eads Is dead and the
millions OF our great valley mourn the loss
OF this great mnn.
What he has accomplished every man,
woman and child living on the banks Of the
great riycr are familiar With. The i%ettics nt
the mouth Of the Mississippi will stand as
an everlasting monument Ia his genius.
and, IN the language OF u well known ORA
tor, would say that would rather be
jas. II. Eads Wing beneath the green turf
On the banks OF This great river, conscious
az ! know he viii be-, even In death. of the
great benefits that he has conferred upon
the tOiling millions of this great valley
than 10 be the greatest conqueror that ever
east the dark canopy Of war over this
green earth III ouns. lApplnusc.
Another great man has gone, one who.
by his energy, intelligence aud practical
knowledge al our wants in our great river
improvement has accomplished probably
moro than any other one man not directly
connected with the work. Ills voice Il
silent in the grave, hut ! ran say, and |
believe, that lac X with ms Ia spirit today.
/ refer 10 the late ilon. Duncan +. Kcnna,
Of Louisiana. tApplalsc.1
The people oftho three great valleys re-
gard with satisfaction the cndcavor Ia bind
together by water and rail the Atlantic
and Pacihc and unto more closely the
people Of the whole world. Tho Tchuan-
tcpcc railway, Panama aud Nicaragua
canals arr unqucslionably enterprises Of
great magnitude in the interests OF com.
mercc, aud the public thought favors tho
realization Of one or the other oI these no
lectH, but We must not lees'ne too much
absorbed IN thcfc OF Airdrsd schemrs.
We must ktep bcfurc ,is our own
needs, we must consider that our
lnst anil highest duty is tho proicc.
ton Of homo Interests, and the
ohcapcning oi transportation within our
own Territory should have priority over
all other matters, aud forlhc accomplish.
ment of which We must struggle Ia over.
comc Ignorance, sectional prejudice, lack
Of Interest, scltishncss aud local rivalry.
Each h an enemy 0i power. We must
stand together ~ one man, aud with one
voice proclaim thai our Ondcsyor in he
half oi river and hhtbor improvement Il
M honest, earnest Ind proper one. In the
Interests oi 40 section or party, but IN the
Interest 81 thu prodnccr and consumer, in
the Interest % cheaper transportation and
loT the common good.
"bisunitcd IN this work We can be over.
Tome, but united and exercising the power
invested Ia tho TpTh, In the middle see.
ton, Ia the great nOrthWCHt, Mt arc inyiuci-
blc. The ruling ohIectn " the executive com.
mittcc Inns bctil - Bcliro this unity II ne.
ton In tho valleys NJ The Ohio, Missouri
and Mississippi. aud such should be- your
policy tolay, lor Il Is this policy by which,
aud by which only, ogpuy section can have
taken what n considers Is duo aud liz
public interests demand. I will now ask
the SECRETARY % rpad the official call under
which you have assembled today"
minn,o" ~u $3.50 :" ~"
Walthall, oi Mississippi, entered the hall.
and wcrc n0undiy applnndcd. 10th gym
uemen VEN ~condnciod To tho stay, on
which wcrn 'already sealed Col W. A,